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“That’s not my name anymore,” I finally manage to declare in a voice I don’t recognize as my own.
Coming to a stop behind me, I suddenly feel his breath on my neck as he drawls. “To me, it is,hermosa … beautiful.”
Fear consumes me, and I desperately wish Hawke was with me.
“How did you know I’d be alone?” I whisper.
Stepping back, bellowing in laughter, Andres admits he’s been watching Mary and me for the past week. Walking around so that we face each other again, he says that he is why Mary’s grandson is in the hospital. His admission forces an audible gasp to escape my throat, making him smile even more.
“We didn’t kill thenino … child,” he grins, “Antonio considered it, but theninois aninocente … innocentand just a means to get to you.”
Just the mention of Antonio’s name makes me shudder.
“It’s been a long time, Luciana,” another voice behind Andres proclaims.
The Beast of Bellavista!
“You’ve managed to evade me for a very long time,” Antonio calmly declares, slowly edging himself closer. “But I have found you, and it’s time to comecasa … home.”
Whatever strength I thought I possessed has left me alone and stranded, unable to move or speak. Fear completely consumes me when I feel the barrel of Andres’ gun nudging into my back. Escalating that fear is knowing it’ll be too late before anyone realizes anything is wrong, or I’m missing.
“Time to go,” Andres orders, pressing his gun harder into the small of my back, forcing me forward.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Hawke
“Em, are you home yet, sweetheart?” I call, throwing my keys into the bowl Emily has placed on the table just inside the door.
The silence surprises me, as does the darkness.
When I’d spoken to my girl earlier today, she was planning to finish early because she wanted to make me a special dinner. It was supposed to be her way of making up for being so negative about the mission Jackson has me heading up tomorrow.
Making my way through the house, it quickly becomes evident that my girl is not home. Walking back toward the living room, I grab my cell and dial her number.
Emily: You’ve reached the voicemail of Doctor Emily Proctor. I can’t take your call now but leave me a message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Something is wrong.
Leaving a message for her to call me back, I end the call and phone Mark Dixon.
“What’s up, man?” he answers instantly.
“I think something has happened to Emily,” I reply.
“What makes you think that?” he asks in return.
“She had planned to finish work early, but she’s not home, and her cell is going straight to voicemail.”
For the briefest moment, he tries to brush off my concerns that something is amiss with this woman of mine, but the tone of my voice eventually convinces him. Before ending the call, he tells me to meet him at Cole Security. When he advises he’ll call ahead and have Liam track Em’s cell as a precautionary measure, I thank him even though both of us know it’ll be a waste of time and resources. Something in my gut tells me that I already know what has happened, yet I refuse to allow thoughts such as those to consume me until I have confirmation.
The sound of my cell ringing dissolves my thoughts.
“Sean.”
“We need to talk. I have news, and you’re not going to like it,” he quickly replies.
“I’m heading to Cole Security; meet me there,” I state before ending the call.
